In 1986 Prue began a project in the Hill of Grace vineyard to select the best genetic material for vineyard replanting. This long-term project was aimed at selecting the vines that produce the most intense colour and flavour in the grapes, through a mass selection process that was carried out over three growing seasons. The resulting nursery block was established in 1989. While the vines are too young to be considered for inclusion in Hill of Grace, the quality of grapes from this selection has produced a wine that has warranted a separate bottling and limited release.
Aromas of prime blackberry and dark plum fruits mesh with hints of pressed flowers, red cherry, and mulberry high notes, spice, sage, cassis, and licorice. Medium-bodied, composed, and displaying a wonderful sense of grace and calm with detailed red and dark fruits, powdery tannin, impeccable balance, and a pitch-perfect savoury flow on the enduring finish.
I cannot imagine a rose with perfume as rare or complex as this wine, yet there is extraordinary floral here. Plush, vigorous, and amazingly impressive, this wine seems so close to perfection but is all the more fascinating because of its blemishes and slight imperfections. While it lacks the experienced coachbuilding details of Hill of Grace, and perhaps the walnut veneer and figurine on the bonnet are not part of its make-up, it is a fabulous wine...